Durga

Durga (; , ), also known as Mahādevī(; , , [mɐɦaːd̪eːʋiː]), and Ādiśakti(; , , [aːd̪ɪ ʃɐkt̪i]), is one of the most important deities in Hinduism. She is regarded as the principal aspect of Adi Parashakti, the Ultimate Reality in Shaktism and widely worshipped by the followers of this goddess-centric sect, and has importance in other denominations like Shaivism and Vaishnavism.

She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars, her legends centers around combating evils and demonic forces that threaten peace, dharma and cosmic order, representing the power of good over evil. Durga is seen as a motherly figure and often depicted as a warrior, riding a lion or tiger, with many arms, each carrying a weapon and defeating demons.

Durga is believed to have originated as an ancient goddess worshipped by indigenous mountain-dwellers of the Indian subcontinent, before being established in the main Hindu pantheon by the 4th century CE. The most important texts of Shaktism, ''Devi Mahatmya'' and ''Devi Bhagavata Purana'', which revere Devi (the Goddess) as the primordial creator of the universe, the Brahman (ultimate truth and reality), and identify Durga as the embodiment of creation, preservation, destruction, ''maya'' (illusion), ''shakti'' (power or energy) and prakriti (nature). She is best known as ''Mahishasura-mardini''; for slaying Mahishasura—the buffalo demon. In accounts of her battles with other demons such as Shumbha and Nishumbha, Durga manifests other warrior goddesses, the Matrikas, and Kali, to aid in combat.

In Vaishnava contexts, Durga is revered as Yogamaya and sometimes considered to be sister of Vishnu. Durga is typically portrayed as an independent warrior goddess. However, in different traditions where she is identified with the goddess Parvati, she also acquires domestic attributes and is widely regarded as the consort of Shiva. This identification is especially prominent in the regional traditions of Bengal, where Durga is also considered as the mother of the deities Ganesha, Kartikeya, Lakshmi, and Sarasvati.

Durga has a significant following all over Nepal, India, Bangladesh and many other countries. She is mostly worshipped after spring and autumn harvests, especially during the festivals of Durga Puja, Durga Ashtami, Vijayadashami, Deepavali, and Navaratri. She is one of the five equivalent deities in Panchayatana puja of the Smarta tradition of Hinduism. Provided by Wikipedia